Cignal libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig (16) returns to her mother club within the PVL after her stint with Alas Pilipinas.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Dawn Macandili-Catindig, armed together with her Alas Pilipinas experience, is desperate to help Cignal in its crucial match against defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze for the remaining final berth within the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.
Catindig’s PVL return after a stint with the national team was spoiled as Cignal absorbed its first defeat of the tournament by the hands of Creamline, 25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20, on Monday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.
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“With the result, still very comfortable pa rin ako to be back. Proud pa rin ako sa teammates ko kasi they did their best. Although yun nga, ang dami pa rin naming lapses,” said the star libero, who returned with 27 digs. “May probability pa rin naman kami to be within the finals. We just should deal with this next game kung paano kami makakabawi.”
Dawn Macandili-Catindig on her #PVL2024 return. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/1p3htfvEH8
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 9, 2024
The national team veteran, who received the go signal to play within the PVL along together with her teammate Vanie Gandler in addition to Creamline’s Jema Galanza, shall be facing the Japan V.League club in a virtual knockout game on Wednesday for the best to face the Cool Smashers, who ruled the Reinforced Conference last week.
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Catindig and Gandler shall be sharing their experience from facing Saga Hisamitsu Springs in a pair of friendlies last weekend and including their two-week Japan training camp before winning back-to-back bronze medals within the SEA V.League.
READ: PVL: Catindig, Gandler in uniform for Cignal clash vs Creamline
“Mas magiging proactive kami ni Vanie kasi we’ve experiences coming against Japanese teams, not only yung sa Hisamitsu but in addition after we were training in Himeji,” said the Alas captain. “In a way, they’ve these certain techniques na alam naming ganun na very standard yun sa Japan and ma-she-share namin yun sa team coming into this game.”
“Nadadala ko yung experiences ko sa national team here also by way of leadership din kasi puro bata yung kasama ko sa national team. It’s still a learning process each time kasi siyempre, in every game, ang daming adjustments na kailangan. And each next game, kailangan mong pag-aralan nang pag-aralan yung magiging kalaban,” she added.
Dawn Macandili-Catindig on facing Kurashiki. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/nUtnOEeVMu
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 9, 2024
The previous PVL Best Libero could have missed the entire Reinforced Conference — where the HD Spikers were a degree away from advancing to the ultimate before the Cool Smashers accomplished a comeback — and their first two games within the Invitationals as a consequence of her Alas duties.
But she’s desperate to leave all the things on the ground in the ultimate two days of the tournament to revive Cignal’s title hopes.
Catindig is just grateful that she still has a probability to play with Best Foreign Guest Player and former F2 Logistics teammate MJ Perez, who shall be playing her last two games in Manila this season.
READ: Creamline one win away from Grand Slam, third straight PVL crown
“Sobrang comfortable ako kasi sobrang na-miss ko siya kasama. I share the identical passion and yung sobrang gigil sa paglalaro. Sobrang comfortable ako na nakasama ko siya sa court,” she said.
The Cignal ace also expressed her gratitude to liberos Judith Abil and Jheck Dionela for holding the team’s fort when she was still with Alas.
“Sobrang thankful ako siyempre kasi very torn ako kasi I’m not here for the team and I actually have to satisfy my duties with the national team. Talagang thankful ako sa kanila kasi nagtutulungan sila na makatulong sa team at talagang binibigay nila yung best nila,” Catindig said.
